On Sunday, March 27, we took the train back to Cape Town. We visited Robben Island and had both a bus tour and walking tour within the prison walls. I am only including pictures due to difficulties uploading video's currently. Our tour guide in the prison was a former prisoner and gave us amazing insight into his day to day life behind barbwire. 

                   

Ocean spray from the rocks around the Island.   

The area where they kept the guard dogs. One prisoner was kept in this small enclosed camp but only because they wanted to keep him separated from other prisoners so he wouldn't share his idea's of FREEDOM.

Walking into the prison, very cold and tight.

Nelson Mandela Prison Cell #4

The following men were also placed in prison cells on Robben Island due to uprising against the government who didn't allow the same freedoms to the blacks as they did for the whites.

 Walking outside, within the prison walls.

                  When we completed our tour on Robben Island we took the boat back to Cape Town where we spent the rest of the afternoon at the harbor shops. We got to shop through homemade crafts and listen to Africaans singers.

                  

                     After our weekend of discovery and excitement we were back at our schools Monday morning at 7:30 am. On Tuesday, March 29th, our high school learners at Kayamandi had an assembly where I got a video them singing at first a gospel song... Here in South Africa Church and School are NOT separated. I also got video of them singing the National Anthem. I got it from the backside so for these two video's I would just listen not watch, all you see is the back of students.

ONCE again the server wouldn't let me download these videos... I will try to put them on YouTube then link them at a later time.

                     Slowly, but surly I will get everything up so you can see more videos (fingers crossed) and at least more pictures. 

Hope everyone is doing well in the states. Feel free to ask questions if you have any!!!!

~Andrea

Starting at the beginning...

                After flying for over 25 hours or sitting in an airport I was sure happy to arrive in South Africa, Cape Town. It was 23:57 (11:57pm) the sky although night was lit up by the stars, moon and the lights from town. It was amazing. I breathed in my first batch of fresh air and couldn't believe how wonderful it felt. Trust me, after breathing recycled air in both airplanes and airports fresh air is the most satisfying thing in that moment J After loading the bus with ALL of our luggage (I only had 1 checked back and my carry-on… thanks to prior experience and my AWESOME cousin Heather!!!). While driving I took pictures of the moon…

                We arrived at our host family were I met one of my host moms, Lizl, she offered us drinks and food at 1:02am… She was soooooo worried we were hungry, such a mom J She showed us the rooms where we would be living for the next 6+ weeks while in South Africa. I got the pink with a couple Jones brother posters, Chole’s room.  Sam got the JONES room which belongs to Selna; Jen got what we call the horse room, because it’s plastered with horse posters, which is Lyria. After spending about a ½ hour unpacking I quickly past out on my new bed in my new home.

                On Tuesday, March 22, we got to visit our schools that we would be working in. We went to Kayamandi High, where I would be teaching with Social Science teachers. Of the group of 18 only 7 of us would be working at the new High School. The next school we visited was a Primary school where the rest of the students (11) would be teaching, grades K-7. Both schools learners are black or colored and mostly cater to the lower income families. After visiting our schools we went to a school that GVSU used several years ago, called Rhenish Primary School, which is mostly attended by affluent, WHITE, South Africans. The Director of our trip, Dr. Sandy Miller, started to change up school placements so the study abroad students could interact with more than just the white, upper class South Africans and experience the racial inequality of the country. I don’t want to say that was the only motivation. In schools that lower income students attend you also experienced culture, stories and revelations of true poverty.

                The video you are about to watch shows some of Kayamandi Township when we took the tour on Saturday, March 26. I couldn’t believe the view from the townships of the mountains surrounding Stellenbosch.

                During the township a child about 7 years of age started singing the National Anthem. I was fortunate to catch this adorable moment with my mom’s FLIP, thanks MOM!!!!!

Due to difficulties, the video won't update with this video. I will try tomorrow.

I will also update with more of my time here in Africa... until then

Bye!

SORRY!

I have had limited amount of time on the Internet for the past week and haven't had time to update my blog. My goal is to give a run-down of everything we've been doing including pictures and video. I hope to have this done by tomorrow before we go on holiday.

Thanks to everyone who is reading my blog, more will be coming!

:) Andrea

Last few hours in Michigan

Today I leave for South Africa, about 3:15pm. I finished packing my suitcase thanks to my AWESOME cousin Heather and had time to hang out and play cribbage. I also packed up all of my belongings so that my cousin and her family can have their space back. I guess it would be important to reflect on how I have made it to this point.

In order to go to South Africa I had to relocate down in Grand Rapids to take my classes. Thanks to Kevin and Heather they opened up their homes and time to help me out with a living situation. Finding a place to live was only the first stressor. The second stressor came in the form of CLASSES. Yep, I was taking 18 credit hours and teacher assisting. To be quite honest, I wish I would have spent more time with my students at my placement, but as a responsible adult you have to make time to meet the needs of all aspects of life. The last big stressor was money. But when isn't money a stressor.

There are BIG positives from this as well. Obviously going to teach in South Africa is one of them. But how about the time I have spent making new friends on main campus; I am typically a quite reserved person who tends to pace interaction with others… but not this time. I had to real open up quickly in order to make friends and get help with all campus and GR things. Another positive was time spent with the Clay’s. I love my cousin and her family and I think I will miss them the most… Don’t get me wrong I will miss my Mom, Dad, Carol, Beth, Bernie, V, and so on…

Well, I’m packed up and I want to finish watching Hoodwinked with the kids before we drive away to meet up for brunch.

Watch for more post, pictures and videos.

Hugs!