Its already been a week?!

Hello Everyone! Greetings from Cape Town!

Well a 30 hour flight, a million time zones, and two seasons later, and I am finally here! Actually, I have been here about a week now. The flight was absolutly insane. We were served dinner, breakfast, and lunch! Thats when you know its a long flight. No personal TVs, so to put it frankily, I let the sleeping pills take over. Im happy to say I didnt suffer one bit from jet lag, even though I was ready for it! I have had absolutly no trouble sleeping, and have enjoyed every minute spent here so far. Ill give you guys some information on what weve been doing.

First day, we did a scavenger hunt around Cape Town called "The Plunge". It was the craziest, scairest, most awkward thing I have ever done in my life. Me, Rainey, and Thomas walked into downtown Cape Town after only being there one night, and had a list of 10 places we had to find our way to. Including St. Georges (beautiful) Camps bay (more beautiful) and Khay. (the township ill be moving into on sunday) We had to take the public transportation called "combis" to all these places. Not only were we the ONLY white people, but they are small mini vans that more than 15 people squeeze into. I got sat on, stepped on, pushed up against the window. It was crazy. But I got to learn so much about the culture just from riding in those combis, and listening to the people around me. We made it home safetly, and exhasusted.

We are staying in Hillcrest, which is a little bed and breakfast right outside of downtown, its beautiful! We have an amazing view of the city and table mountain. Our group has already been through some intense bonding, and I feel like I have known these 14 kids forever. Without each other, I dont think any of us would be able to be successful in this program.

Well this past week has been intense. We have spent it mainly seeing landmarks, and learning about the history of Cape Town. We have been learning about the dutch and british colonization, the afrikaaners dominance, and the oppression of the black community. Not only have we learned, but we have witnessed. The divide between races here in South Africa is like none other in the world. Ten minutes inland you find extreme poverty, children roaming the streets begging for rand (the SA currency), people living in homes that can barely stand. Then, travel ten mintues to the shore, and you see the rich of the rich. People sipping on cappachinos and petting their dogs. Its crazy to be an insider looking in on this. How do they do it? How can the Afrikaaners live their lives knowing the brokeness of the people living ten minutes away. Cape Town is a beautiful place. You can find the beauty in the mansions that stretch across the shoreline, and the beauty that lies in the spirit of the black communities who cling to nothing, but each other.

We jsut have spent the last three days at a place called Travellers Rest. It is a small secluded place, we stayed in converted slave homes. It is here that we saw Rock Art. Art made by the San people thousands and thousands of years ago. This art was some of the most amazing pieces of art I have seen in my entire life. Some of the art was so faded, will other pieces looked like they had been done yesterday. Although its so simple, it gives you a whole different sense of presence. Travellers Rest was one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. I took a lot of pictures, and ill make sure to post them once I figure out how to!

Well its 6 oclock now, my beer is running empty and im getting hungry! ill speak with you all soon!