Africa - the last day - EARTHWAVE

So my last day in South Africa was sort of a treat to be honest.  Every year in Muizenberg where I was staying (a small surf city infamous for the famous beachfront huts); a small city just outside of Cape Town, South Africa competes in a competition to hold the World Guinness Record for having the most surfers UP on one wave at the same time.  They held the record in 2009 for having 110 people up on the wave.  This year was close, but they did not quite beat their own victory from last year.  This year landed them 93 people on one wave.  Still a big achievement if you ask me! It was pretty overcast and ended up raining, but that did not stop these people for showing up to show their support to keep the title. ~es

This is the beachfront in Muizenberg.  These shots were not taken on my last day, but I just wanted to show you the landmark.  It was a much sunnier day this day. LOL.

Front view of the huts.  They are empty.  I think people can change in them.  They are not really utilized.  

There were so many surfers out there!! It was crazy! An awesome experience.  

 

You can not see very well, but ALL of the tiny black dots out on the wave are actual people! 

Africa - My last weeks continued....next up - Hout Bay & Guguletu Townships

Ok so one of the best things I did on my entire trip was meet a guy who goes by the name Ginger.  An amazing man if you ask me, Rasta, and a musician, but the thing I was grateful to him most for was being willing to take me around other townships to show me how the people REALLY LIVE.  During the world cup he told me there was a lot that South Africa was doing to try and "clean up" the streets for the tourists, but that was not how things "really" were.  It was such a blessing to meet him and see the true lifestyle for many South Africans.  The experience was priceless really and I could not have gotten it any other way than by knowing this local man.  Ginger became a very special person to me and I will always remember him for his amazing spirit! Thank you Ginger! ~es 

This is Ginger's son and niece. In Guguletu.  So adorable! 

More of his family.  The kids having fun with the camera! 

This is his sister Grace.  Such a sweet person.  This is also her newborn baby and the most common way you will find women in Africa carrying their babies.  It seems to work great!! 

The kids playing around again! 

This is Ginger and his son Nikelo; so cute!

This is an overview of the Hout Bay township.  You can see all of the shacks are set on the hillside.  An amazing thing to be in front of.  

Look closely and you will see someone looking back at me.  I had to take this shot! 

Just some women enjoying the beautiful weather that day.  

Amazing how they are able to get electricity to some of the homes, yet so dangerous.  

Another view of the shacks. 

A daily thing eaten by many of the locals.  What we call a BBQ in America they call a Brai  and they grill many kinds of meats.  I think those who do not have much money Brai these.  Not the most appealing thing to eat.  

These two boys saw me from way up the hill with my camera and could not wait to get their photo taken.

Some teenage kids just spending their day out in the sun.  Life is very simple here.

Africa - My last weeks continued....next up - Devotion Day!

So as many of you know I spent my time in Africa working at a primary school teaching art.  I did however have several days off each week where I got to go to a childcare center and spend time with pre-school age children. I fell in love with so many of these youngsters.  Every Friday they would have what they called Devotion Day where all the classes got together and spent the day singing praises to God.  What a beautiful thing to see.  I got really close to many of these kids and still wish I could bring them home to stay with me.  Here are some highlights...~es

Here the kids sat and listened so intently to wait for the next song they would be singing.  

This little girl is so cute and sweet, Makayla.  

The girl on the right is so adorable and SUPER TINY!! I taught her sister at the primary school and they are both so small and cute.  Just want to pick them up and hug and love them all day.  Taryn is her name.  

This is Nicole. So sweet and SO photogenic.  She is gorgeous!  She is also in the picture above, but I am reposting this one because it is the one that won the competition I entered.  I'll post another of her now, just so you can see how cute and awesome she really is!

See!!! SO CUTE!! LOVE HER!!

Africa - My last weeks Continued.....next up - Table Mountain

Ok, so here are another post from my final weeks in Africa.  I got to see one of South Africa's most famous landmarks which is called Table Mountain.  You can hike or ride a cable car to the top and see the entire cape from the top.  It is absolutely breathtaking.  A few other volunteers and I got to take one of the workers from the organization we went through for her birthday.  Her name is Rudo and she came to South Africa from Zimbabwe.  She had never been to Table Mountain before and we couldn't think of a better person to bring with us!! We had so much fun that day!! Here are some of the photos. ~es

This is the ride up the cable car to the top of the mountain.  

The beautiful Rudo wanted a photo at every possible place on her special day!! She stood out from among all the others in her pretty pink dress.  I love Rudo! 

One breathtaking view.  

Another....

So there is this flower in Africa that is everywhere and guess what its name is?  You guessed it, Erica! 

Walking on the pathways around the top of the mountain I almost stepped on this lizard.  Yikes! 

One of the many species of pretty flowers on the top of the mountain. 

One more breathtaking view of the sea below the mountain.  So gorgeous! 

Africa - My last weeks

Hi Everyone, so I have been a little behind on posting updates so I am combining the last half of my trip into one post.  I will say that the last few weeks of my trip undeniably had the MOST impact on me. Just to name a few of the things that happened I will say this: (1) I was taken on a tour of the township I worked in by a local and was nearly robbed by gang members. (2) I got to spend a day helping out at a maternity hospital with women who have HIV and are pregnant or have just given birth. (3) Got to see some of South Africa's most famous landmarks. (4) Got to meet one of the most amazing people I have ever met and he was able to take me around several other townships in Cape Town so I could truly capture the essence of their way of life. (5) I participated in and WON a photo contest with the volunteer group I went through!.....the list could go on and on!! Although I have been home for nearly a month now it seems I still wish I was there.  Don't get me wrong now, there are things about America that I will never want to give up, but the people in South Africa have really made such a big impression on my heart.  I got a wake up call in my last weeks of just how lucky we are in countries like the United States, but I also was able to learn so much about life from the people of South Africa.  I will never forget the friendships that I have made and the influence these people have had on me and my life.  What a blessing it has been to me to know and serve them.  They have taught me that adversity does not determine your happiness in life but that your reaction to it does!! We all have struggles and trials that we face in this life, but we also must remember how much good is in our lives and how grateful we must be to have the things that we already have!! I will always love Africa for teaching me to be more grateful.

This is deep into the township where non locals do not normally go.  The shacks in this part do not have toilets or water.  Often there is a portable toilet chain linked in between 5 or 6 shacks.  

This was at the end of the tour AFTER we almost got robbed.  It is on a hill over looking the entire township.  

A typical road side in the township.  Houses/Shacks are made up of any materials that can be found/salvaged.  

This was a grandmother on one of the streets who asked me to take a photo of her and the children.  She is holding her newborn baby grandchild in the blanket.  This was the first photo taken of the baby.  

The girl in the photo, Rianna, is the local who grew up in the Capricorn township and offered to take me on a tour.  The men are her friends, possible gang members, but rivals of the gang who we were almost robbed by.  These are her childhood friends and they did warn and walk us to safety.  Rianna is no longer living in the township, but  she does work as a teacher aide at the primary school I worked with.  I love her! 

I am going to have to post the rest of the photos from the last coming weeks in another post!!! Too many for one entry! ~es