I miss South Africa and all of the people that I met so very much. It is actually quite hard transitioning back to life in the United States. I had 3 families see me off at the airport…it was very difficult. I am fairly sure I cried throughout the whole day…

I will cherish my time in South Africa forever. It was truly an experience of a lifetime.

I plan on continuing to travel the world…maybe even teach abroad for a couple years…who knows what the future holds.

As of now, I start my student teaching internship next Thursday. I am very eager, yet nervous to begin. It is going to be a rough year, but I will get through it.

Cheers and good luck to all,

Kaitlyn

The drive was quite long, but well worth it… breathtaking sights! My pictures truly do not do a justice (they will be added to Facebook as soon as I get back!). We went on a safari and saw an amazing variety of animals, some including the following: elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes, etc.

The hike through the Cango Caves was amazing! Many of us took the ‘adventurous route’, which involves squeezing yourself through tiny areas of the cave. It was tough, but again, well worth it!

The bungy jump was truly life-changing for me. I was terrified the whole weekend, knowing it was one of the stops to our weekend trip. I could not have done it without the support and courage from my friends on the trip. I cried at the top of the bridge, but eventually just did it. It was an out of body experience. It was surprisingly peaceful and quiet. You were one with nature. I will have to show you all the DVD and picture CD I received when I get home…I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. I faced my fear of heights…woohoo!

Write now I am writing from the Deo Gratia computer…where we first started upon our arrival. It seems so far away that we are here. Today, we are doing some last minute shopping and going out for a final dinner/clubbing.

Our flight leaves around 11:55 p.m. tomorrow night. We all shall arrive at DTW on the 13th at around 3:30 p.m. Eastern time.

South Africa is amazing. I am having a very rough time preparing myself for departure. I will never forget this experience.

Peace and love,

Kaitlyn

Tonight I will continue my crying as I say bye to my host family’s closest friends and family…I am now part of their family too.

Until next time,

Kaitlyn

Between now and then is kind of a blur. I’ve done so much, and it is hard to journal at night because I am so tired! This last week at school and with my host family has been stressful. Tomorrow is the last day at the school and then we are having people over for a party at night. I am so blessed with the people I have met. I cannot thank them enough for their hospitality and generosity towards me. Tomorrow for sure will be a tear-jerker. I already received 2 cards from some of my students today. I cried. They are so adorable, yet such troublemakers at the same time…..haha……

Corvell, Cheryl, and Dayle came to watch me teach today. Not intimidating at all.. …

Last night I went to a mall to print out pictures of my host family to give me. Dayle and I went to dinner, while the rest of the Cranfield family went elsewhere in the mall. Their family reminds me a lot of my own. They are such wonderful people. Again, I am so lucky to be with the people that I am on this trip…

Emily and I (the other MSU student at Accordion Street Primary School) are teaching a group of 4th and 5th graders the ‘Waka Waka’ dance (the official World Cup song). It has been such a blast! I will take a video of our last session tomorrow to post on facebook. They are to perform at the annual ‘Mr. and Ms. Accordion’ on August 26th. I wish I could see them. They have worked so hard!

It is very hard to only be at the school for a short period of time. There are so many children who need more support (my class is overall at a very low level), love, and just plain hugs. There are a certain few that I need more time with…they are on the wrong track, and it is not good….I hope that I have done something good in their lives…

P.S. Today, I had the class Skype with my sister and her fiance. They loved it. Each child asked them a question, and then I had them sing the national anthem to them. They were overwhelmed with emotion and cried…I cannot wait to talk to them more about it…

Yesterday, my host dad took Emily and I to his school. He is a principal at a school that is Afrikaans speaking (as a first language). It was such a great experience and completely different from the school I am placed at. Others on the trip do not have opportunities like this, so I was very lucky. It really helps you to form more conclusions about your experience, not just from one school. I went to a 5th grade classroom when I got there. They asked me questions about the United States and my life, and then I went with them to the Food Room for the morning feeding. I sat with them and it was nice talking to other students from a different school. It is amazing how they can just turn of Afrikaans and speak English no problem. The U.S. is soo different… Uncle Jimmy (my host dad) held a ceremony outside with the whole school. Emily and I explained the meanings of the American flag and the state flag of Michigan. The students asked us questions, and we received gifts of a South African flag for our cars and a hardcover calender book. I was shocked and got teary eyed. The 7th graders read the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance for us, and the whole school sang South Africa’s national anthem. I cried. It was beautiful. Children in the U.S. do not even learn our national anthem in schools…

So much to say, but I’ll end for now.

Friday morning the whole group is getting picked up to drive to the Southern Cape for 4 days. This is where all of our animal adventures and bungy jumping is happening. Wish me luck. I’m still struggling mentally. I WILL PREVAIL! I will see my host family when I get back to pick up my luggage…but only for a second. I believe they are coming to the airport to see me off.

My host mom/teacher gave me some time to go in the computer room, so I thought I’d write a quick blog.

I must admit, I am feeling a bit homesick today. I miss you all so much! Not to worry though…I am loving my time here. I am learning so much from every one that I meet.

The next two Fridays, I will be playing cricket and rugby…ha! This weekend, the whole group will be meeting up again for Friday Island (not exactly sure what this is… I’ll let you know). Next Saturday will be the big day for me…the day I will bungee jump off the highest commercial bungee jump in the world–Bloukrans Bridge.  Wish me luck. I am truly facing my fear of heights…HUGE stepping stone. I’ll be able to purchase a DVD of my adventure, so I’m sure you all will get a kick out of that!

Last night, I went to dinner and bowling with Cheryl, Dayle, Emily, and Sam. We were the only ones at the ally….and had some major issues with our lane. It was pretty funny.

Tonight, a few of us are going for dinner/movie for Sam’s 22nd birthday. Should be a good time.

Education is very different here…the public schools take part in prayer, uniforms, and have fees….the basic definition of a private school in America. Through all of my assignments prior to coming; lectures from University of Cape Town professors; various principals and teachers in the area; and my host family,  I now believe I know more about education in South Africa than my own country–the US of A. Really makes me think.I do not think we are educated enough as far as how exactly our system works…even in my work at MSU. I am eager to bring what I learn here back to Michigan. Part of my coursework here involves creating a lesson on some aspect of South Africa to teach back at home. I am going to create one for my future 5th grade class for my internship year….hmm….so much to think about….

I need to get started on my assignments here…and take advantage of my down time at my host house. It is hard! I talk to my host brother, Darren, and family too much!

Until next time,

Kaitlyn

P.S. When you are feeling down, just remember how lucky you really are…that is one thing I have realized/solidified on this trip…in all that I see every day.

What a crazy few days it has been. Tuesday was my last day with the whole study abroad group before meeting our host families. Every one was quite nervous and anxious all day (well, at least I was).

During the day, we visited the poor township of Langa. You always know about poverty, but actually seeing this kinda made me numb. The children were dirty, yet happy as could be. They walked around with us as a tour guide took us through.  They loved our shiny purses and rings, wanted us to pick them up, and carry them around. Such beautiful children. We even got to walk through two living areas/apartments. I was shocked. It resembled a museum that you would see in the olden days in the U.S. I tried to hold and cover my tears back, but I could not. I feel like a spoiled brat. What made me cry more is that these people are still so happy and enjoying what they can out of life. One resident asked me why I was crying, but I could not answer. I just shrugged and walked away. But really…what was there to say? This really made me think. It was nice seeing another side to South Africa…the kind that is not all ‘touristy’ and all about the World Cup.

That night we went to a church to meet our host families. We were there about an hour early to get our bags sorted and have our last meeting with Corvell. It was surreal. I couldn’t believe what I had been waiting for forever was finally here! Corvell and Johnny (one of our awesome drivers) loved playing jokes with us. It feels as if a part of my family is being left behind. However, my host family is just spendid! Their hospitality and generosity boggles my mind. They already call me part of the family, and it has only been two days. I am learning so much from them. The dad, Jimmy, is a princial at an all-Afrikaans school. He is going to take me there one day with Emily, another MSU student who is working at the same school I am now (the one my host mom works in).

South African schools are layed out totally different than America. It really opens your eyes. Even the poorest schools in the U.S. should be very lucky. I am still getting used to no central heating in the buildings. The kids do not seem to have a problem with it, but I know most American kids would have trouble. However, that is what they are used to. Again….how  grateful I am.

There is a 4th year college student, Waldo, who is working in my 4th grade class also. He is being assessed tomorrow on a lesson from his university, so it should be very interesting. It is making me nervous for when I teach! So far, I have just been observing, taking notes, and doing what my host mom wants me to do.

The kids ask me how America is, if Miley Cyrus lives there, if I have met someone famous, what time it is in America, etc. It is so cute…I am glad to open their eyes to a new culture. I am going to bring in my world map tomorrow and show them where I come from. It is funny to hear their views on America because it would be the same as an American kid asking, “Do you live in huts and see lions walking down the road?” No no….

Also, Corvell, Cheryl (other study abroad head), and Dayle (Corvell’s son) visited us at school today. It was great to see them again! It’s been so long! We’ve formed a new family of 27, and it is quite weird not seeing them everyday.

South Africa is such a diverse place being restructured from the intensity of the apartheid years. It is amazing to see how far they have come, but they still have many finite details to figure out…just as the U.S. does…

So much to say….not enough time….

Miss you all,

Kait

Last night, we went to dinner at a wonderful restaurant downtown to watch Spain’s victory. It will be interesting to see South Africa simmer down as more tourists start leaving….

Tonight is our last night at Deo Gratia. I am quite sad…it has been fun living with my fellow peers. However, I am very eager and excited to meet my host family tomorrow! I move in with them tomorrow night and start going to the school on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the group will reunite to hike from the Rhodes Memorial in Cape Town to Kirseenbosch.

Bungy jumping should happen in a few weeks.

South Africa is beautiful. I love it.

Peace and love,

Kaitlyn

xoxo

Wow! It has been quite the adventure so far! Our internet access is limited, so that is why I have been unable to blog so far. Short version of random thoughts:

*Being at the airport was surreal. Every one was so excited and anxious to partake on our 18 hour plane ride (with a 5 hour layover). It was a loonngggggg trip, but we made it! 21/23 of us were on a plane, and it was fun to see one another. It was very cool to be on an international plane with people from all over the world. We met a few cool people from South Africa. However, I went stir crazy at the end! Ahhh!!

*The Cape Town airport was beautiful! Corvell, Dayle, Johnny, and others greeted us with happy faces and took us to McDonalds! Yum!  After, we reached our destination at Deo Gratia in Durbanville. It is beautiful! Some of us are at a place around the corner, nicknamed ‘Robben Island’.

*I haven’t slept much since I got here…but I’m running on adrenaline.

*So far, we’ve been very busy! On the go allll the time:

-been to the fan park for the World Cup games

-Robben Island

- District 6 Museum

-pet a cheetah

-saw baboons

-saw penguins (and Leonardo DiCaprio! )

-purchased a vuvuzela

-danced the gumboot and Waka Waka dance!

-went to the 2nd largest mall in the Southern Hemisphere…these malls kick American malls’  butt!

-climbed down Table Mountain

-wine tasted in the mountains

(I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot….)

**much much more….Hermanus this weekend and cage diving with great whites on Monday! I will meet my host family on Tuesday night and start in the school on Wednesday! Wish me luck!

I miss and love you all so much!! South Africa so far has been the experience of a lifetime. I suggest you all visit one day!

Until next time,

Kaitlyn

Our flight tomorrow is at 4:05 p.m. from Detroit to Amsterdam (7 1/2 hours). We have a 5 hour layover, and then we’re off to Cape Town…a good 12 hours. Woohoo!!!

We have a great group going, and I cannot wait!

I’ll try to update as much as I can.

Cheers for now,

Kaitlyn