"Thoughts on Capetown" By: Chelsea Biele

After being in Cape Town for only 12 days, I have already learned that taking action is the only way to truly make the most of the trip.

C is for conquer.
Just 2 days ago, our entire group of 100 plus students climbed all the way to the top of Table Mountain- that’s 3,563 feet or 1,086 meters in elevation! It was truly an accomplishment to look out and see just how high we had climbed.
A is for adapt.
Being over 8,100 miles away from home in the U.S., we have had to adjust to a new environment with different ideals, social norms, and ways of life. Adapting to be accepted here has been a challenge when others stereotype you as “obnoxious, un-educated, drunk Americans”. (direct quote from Jürgan the German)
P is for persevere.
Today, we visited Robben Island with special guest accompanying us-Nelson Mandela’s cellmate for 18 years. He shared his experience and demonstrated how both are truly living examples of what it means to never give up. Instead of repeating the cycle of violence that stemmed from the Apartheid, the men survived the hardship of imprisonment, rose above it, and did not seek revenge, but instead made positive change.
E is for explore.
Cape Town has so much to offer whether it is the shopping, dining, or nightlife. We have ventured to the Green Market to haggle for some trinkets as well as tested out as many restaurants and bars as possible. There is no time to waste when there is a new discovery around every corner.
T is for test.
At the core of this trip has been to do something out of your comfort zone and truly test your limits. I’ve already gotten to pet a baby cheetah and spend the night in a township, which are things I never would have foreseen myself doing. Skydiving, shark cage diving, bungee jumping, and elephant riding are on the list for next week.
O is for offer.
We spent the entire week last week learning the true meaning of giving in Sir Lowry’s Pass. I really got to know my family through storytelling, dancing, and rapping all night long. I was able to offer them my knowledge and encouragement as well as show them love.
W is for wonder.
For lunch yesterday, some of us walked to the lighthouse and ate at Maestro’s right on the water. We had a perfect view of Table Mountain and the entire city of Cape Town. It is important to stop and admire the scenery because otherwise you’ll miss out on one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
N is for navigate.
After learning the Power of Living, Giving, Wow, and Now, I have realized how important it is to figure out what I want to do in life. The only way to get there is by plotting a course to follow. Whether or not that course has it’s detours will only make the voyage that much more interesting.

“Bucket List Time” By: Taylor Cardwell

South Africa is a place where one should go to complete his or her bucket list. No matter what activities that you enjoy participating in, South Africa will have it. You might be a hiker; well you could always climb Table Mountain. You might like swimming; well you could cage dive with Great White Sharks. You might be crazy; well you could jump out of a plane to skydive or off a bridge to bungee jump. There are also plenty of places to shop and tons on wine vineyards for those people who like to keep their feet more grounded. Those cat lovers out there could go to the Cheetah Outreach and pet cheetahs. If you love playing with kids and can resist making someone truly happy you can visit Sir Lowry’s Pass where “out of energy” is just some the kids do not experience. There is plenty of rugby and even the World Cup for all of those sports fans. The point is that South Africa has it all and I would like to share some of the things that I will be checking off of my bucket list on this trip.
1. Bungee Jump (off the 2nd highest bungee jump in the world.)
2. Pet a Wild Animal (the cheetahs)
3. Climb a mountain (Table Mountain)
4. Learn to surf
5. Cage Dive with Great White Sharks
6. Go on a Safari
7. Go to a World Cup match

"My South African Experience" By: Dana Tashiro

My South African experience so far has been completely unreal and over the top amazing. When in Cape Town, we have started to frequently use the catchy acronym, T.I.A. T.I.A. is most commonly known as, “This is Africa”. So naturally, here’s my top 5 most African things or experiences:

1. Petting cheetahs at free will with a small payment of 100 Rands
2. The unyielding love for both Michael Jackson and Justin Beiber that resides in virtually all township homes
3. Mama Africa, the name says it all
4. Obsessions with anything Springbok and everything Bafana Bafana
5. The opportunity to cage dive with great white sharks, bungee jump, sky dive, surf, sand board, para-glide, go on wild safaris, and riding ostriches all while only traveling at max a few hours from home

T.I.A. is a legitimate phrase and is used to describe only true African happenings.

"Week 1 Review - in Numbers!" By: Katherine Miller

Day 6

3,900 - (American) dollars that Miss Ann, township soup mother, makes in a year.
1994 - year Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa in the first fully representative democratic election.
335 - pictures I've taken since arriving in South Africa.
45 - minute bus ride to Sir Lowry's Pass township.
16 - cheetahs at Spier; only a few we could pet though!
15 - soup mothers in Sir Lowry's Pass township.
12 - apostles. (the Atlantic-facing range of Table Mountain)
10 - rand (South African currency) + our unique charms/talents = a gift challenge.
9.5 - hour we eat breakfast on week days before class meetings.
9 - missing face-paint markers.
5 - members of the band that sang to us at Mama Africa's.
4 - generations of women in Miss Ann's house on Thursday.
3 - restaurants in our hotel.
2 - meals I've eaten at Kauai, a sandwich and smoothie restaurant. It's delicious!
1 - great taxi driver named Ishmael Orrie.

Readers, feel free to comment with additional numbers/statistics!

Life in three words:
Africa is immeasurable!
(uncountable waves; more kids than I could ever have imagined; exotic, spotted wildlife)

"Vinos and Cheetos" By: Claire Shurley

Today was a beautiful day from start to finish. I woke up early enough to enjoy the serenity of an incredible sunrise from inside my apartment window. And again as I arrived home after all of the days events, I along with two others was stunned by the breathtaking orange and coral painted sky right before our eyes beyond the horizon and above the frothy waves that crash and cover the beaches here in Cape Town. Gorgeous. And a perfect way to end such an elegant day of wine tastings and cheetah viewings. This morning we Springboks got on the bus at ten and drove out to the Haut Espoir vineyards in Franschhoek. As we passed vineyard after vineyard, perfect row after row of grape plants plastered set in a background of rolling hills that lead to the beautiful peaks of South Africa, we noticed the stark contrast of our surroundings here from the valley of the township that we spent our time in these past four days. I and many of the others agree that we are so glad we ventured beyond to the more touristy side of Cape Town after our service week with the amazing people of Sir Lowry's Pass. We had a much broader perspective now, not only of the diversity of this city, but also of the real life situations and actual lifestyles of the people in and around the city. And with these new understandings we were able to fully enjoy and appreciate every little aspect of the wine tastings and tours as well as the cheetah viewings... and for the lucky few... cheetah pettings :). Everything is looking beautiful here in Cape Town!