Katie's Cape Town Adventures

Below is an email Katherine Welsh sent her family and friends. With her permission i am posting to this blog to provide yet another view of just some of the amazing experiences the Honors in Cape Town students are having. Although not all students have had the opportunity to sit in on South African Parliamentary meetings, or have chosen to ride elephants, bungy jump off the highest bridge, or join meditation classes, Katie's email provides yet another glimpse into why the Honors in Cape Town Program is such an incredible experience!


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Katherine Welsh
Date: Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 8:20 AM
Subject: THIS IS A SUPER-LONG EMAIL UPDATE FROM CAPE TOWN... I COULDN'T BEAR TO CUT ANYTHING OUT!! (skip to the bungy jumping video for the good stuff)

Already two and a half months into this trip and OH! the places I've found myself! In the last month alone, I looked down my toes off the highest bridge in Africa, stood on a corner waiting to be picked up by a Buddhist monk, played soccer in a township and sat in on a South African Parliamentary meeting. To do justice to my time here in an email will be difficult, but I'll try.

My job is amazing. I work for an organization called Black Sash (www.blacksash.org.za ) where I help with the lobbying they do on social policy issues. Our office serves as a paralegal advice office in addition to its role in the advocacy of and lobbying for important social issues. I'm currently working on an amendment to the Unemployment Insurance where we are lobbying to 'extend the safety net' for citizens and help to alleviate some of the vast poverty that plagues South Africa. This includes spending a lot of time on the phone with government and civil society members and attending Parliamentary Committee meetings where I try to corner Members of Parliament to push our issues. It's great practice for just about any job and I've learned so much about the South African legislative system.

We all have internships in and around Cape Town on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and then classes on Thursday. While we don't get to have classes with South African students, we do have the opportunity to join campus societies at the University of Cape Town. I'm involved with the 'Mused and Bemused' reader and writer society. We meet twice a month, once to share what we're reading and once to share what we're writing. We met last week and hosted an author who is currently a med student at UCT and had the chance to pick her brain on what it's like to be published. She published a book called 'Coconut' and appeared to be a very grounded successful author. The venue couldn't have been cooler either; we met on the rooftop terrace of the very bohemian looking 'Cafe Ganesh' in my favorite part of town called Observatory, or 'Obs'. All the shops and restaurants there have brightly colored walls, mismatched chairs, tables and place settings, and a mix of traditional and more hip African cuisine (a lot of spiced meats, starches, curries and veggies).

About thirteen of us from the house went on a road trip recently. (A total of seventeen students live in my house with an additional ten in another house up the road. Surprisingly, we're still getting along quite well.) We went to a place called Plettenberg Bay for three nights. We hopped on a bus and made it in about twelve hours, two of which were spent sitting on the side of the road when the bus broke down, but otherwise it was a flawless trip. We filled the three days away from Cape Town with hiking, elephant riding, a zipline canopy tour, BUNGY JUMPING! , the beach, and a horseback safari (fortunately the lions were in a fenced-off part of the park). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, our bungy is the highest in the world and after much convincing, all but two of our thirteen ended up jumping. (And yes, if everyone jumped off a bridge... I would too.) AMAZING!

Standing on the corner (of Lafayette? ... Did you know that the inspiration for Paul Simon's Graceland album came from a township not far from me?) waiting to be picked up by a Buddhist monk on the way to meditation class has become a part of my Sunday morning routine. The first time, I wasn't sure if I would recognize him, but fortunately he was hard to miss in the Buddhist monk... uniform? After a few weeks of class, I've decided that meditation class should be a compulsory part of study abroad. Had I realized a few weeks ago that, 'if there's something you can do to change a situation, there is no reason to be unhappy about it and if there's nothing you can do to change a situation, there is no reason to be unhappy about it,' I think I might have had a smoother transition to Cape Town life...

I've also had numerous opportunities to spend time in townships. The people there generally know before we even open our mouths that we're not South African because, according to them, there is no way a white South African would ever spend any time in the townships. Despite the fact that the majority of South Africans live in these townships, they still seem to be portrayed as mysterious and dangerous places by those who don't live there. All we ever really hear is about the poverty and HIV/AIDS, so it's hard to understand what life is like there unless you visit yourself. I was fortunate enough to be invited to an initiation ceremony by an American friend of mine who used to teach in a township. One of her former students returned from 'the bush' recently after his 'becoming a man'. (In Xhosa culture, that's circumcision) The party included all of his relatives and friends, the 'mamas' inside and the men sitting on benches in the garage. Everyone took turns giving him advice on what it is 'to be a man' and then he was gifted with furniture and appliances. If we could all be so lucky.

We've also gotten involved with a youth programme in Khayelitsha, Cape Town's largest township. People generally estimate that about one million people live there, but as most of them live in shacks it's impossible to get an accurate count. A few people in our program have their internships there working with HIV/AIDS prevention or education. At Hope Worldwide, one of my housemates works with a guy named Vuyane who, in addition to his work with Hope Worldwide, started a youth program that facilitates a pick-up soccer league and a drama club. We went to challenge one of the teams in a 'football match' and watch their drama performances. I was so moved by their plays which are all based on very real life experiences of rape, the clash of traditional and modern cultures, HIV/AIDS and race. A 14-year-old named Wanda closed the day's activities by performing his poetry as follows (we asked him to write it down for us):

"Lost in the dark depressions not knowing where to turn to
I opened the windows to my soul to see what I could learn.
With witches and demons chasing I could not get close by.
I shouted God's name out loud and a sword came flying by.
I took it with might and swung it with power
And I sent all the evil witches straight to hell.
I climbed out of the window and I am free as a bird.
The only brave person I know,
It's well me and myself!"

Not only was it an impressive performance on its own, but it was also in his second language. Most of the kids spoke English only if they were older than twelve and had had substantial class time in English.

We have come to understand that the crime and HIV/AIDS that originate in the townships are a result of the apartheid that lasted until 1994. If the situation in South Africa is to improve, there needs to be a fundamental change from the ground up. When black and 'coloured' people were moved off the 'white areas' and into townships in the 60's and 70's, there was a sudden shift in their family structures. Mothers were forced to work, both parents had to travel longer to get to their job, pay more for transportation and work longer to make up for it. Thus, township children very suddenly found themselves without supervision. The immediate result was the plethora of drug and crime problems that exist today. In the time since 1994, children have been the focus of programs combating the attraction of gang life, and one of the best strategies is to provide extracurricular alternatives.

So, the soccer league is more than your average soccer league, it becomes change in a very tangible way. The kids involved perform better in school and generally stay out of trouble. It is for this reason that I am trying to help Vuyane register as a Non-Profit Organization so that he can more easily acquire funding. In the meantime, with the support of Windsor Youth Soccer, Windsor High School and my wonderful boyfriend, Fred, and his friends in Canada, I am having cleats and other soccer equipment collected and sent over here. As we watched kids play barefoot on fields littered with glass and sharp rocks, I couldn't help but think of the six pairs (if not more) of soccer cleats that we have just sitting in the attic. CLEATS FOR KHAYELITSHA (keye-leech-ah) is an initiative that will collect used and new cleats in addition to other soccer equipment. I am hoping to get sponsored by of one of the shipping companies as I have heard that they will sometimes send things for charities for free. If anybody would like to help, donate, or get rid of their old soccer gear, please let me know!

So this is my less than brief rundown of my time here thus far. I'm so lucky to have the chance to continue doing these programs, I have learned so much about a wonderful new place! I'm looking forward to sharing more of my experiences with you when I return, thanks so much for the support I've received while here!


Love,

Katie

Day in Durban, 25 Mar 2008

March 25
Day in Durban




Beginning with what can only be described as a spectacular sunrise, the day was designed for students to choose to do those things that were most appropriate for them. Some enjoyed relaxing on the beach; others attempted surfing; some went shopping at Indian Market. What follows are a few brief reflections on and links to pictures of, those things that I did.

As all who know me realize, I am a very early riser! With that said, for me, having my first cup of coffee on the balcony of the Blue Waters Hotel, overlooking the beach at Durban, was a perfect way to start my day. As I watched the sun begin to rise over the water, I saw three figures far off in the distance at the water’s edge --– two women and a man. It was only when I saw the guy push back his hair, that i realized one of those three had to be Tim! The zoom on my camera revealed that he was joined by Alla and Michelle. I must admit, of the hundreds of pictures I snapped on this trip, the pictures of the sunrise at Durban are definitely among my favorites. You can view them by clicking the title of this post or by going to http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey/DurbanSunrise32508108PM



After a wonderful buffet breakfast, some of us headed off for a bit of shopping at the Victorian Street Indian Market “If you ever find yourself in Durban, the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal (and third largest in the country), you are in for a treat. Over 170 stalls, including Indian, Chinese and Taiwanese food, can be found at “the Vic”, located in a building that looks like a Maharajah’s palace, complete with purple minarets. Indian and African produce are available, along with handcrafts and prepared food. Durban has a huge Indian population — the largest outside of Asia — its size mirrored in the Vic’s bounty of barrels, overflowing with fragrant Indian spices. Men in their kurtas and women in their saris sell their wares in this extensive bazaar.” You can read more about the market at http://www.noodlesandrice.com/victoria-street-market-durban-south-africa/ (since i was too busy looking around to take any pictures!)

Back to the hotel to drop off those who wanted to spend the afternoon on the beach, we picked up others interested in going to for a visit to the Jumah Mosque.

“Built in 1927 it is the largest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere. The architectural style is an interesting combination of Islamic and Colonial. It has colonnaded verandahs, a gold-domed minaret, and many turrets that dominate the whole street, lending it an atmosphere of the East.” The narrow entrance is on Queen Street and, after asking several people, we found that we could have a guided tour by going across the street and inquiring at the Islamic Propagation Centre. More pictures of our time at the Mosque are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey/JumahMosqueInDurban32508208PM


Next we were off to see the Valley of 1000 Hills and although it took our drivers a little while to find it, we all agreed it was definitely worth the trip, both in terms of beauty and souvenir shopping. http://1000hills.kzn.org.za/1000hills/index.html. More pictures of our time at the Valley of 100 Hills can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey/ValleyOf1000Hills32508

We returned to the hotel in time to get ready for dinner at the Roma Revolving Restaurant, which features a “large spread of Italian cuisine prepared with personal service and a superb view of Durban, from the 32nd floor of John Ross House where you can be enchanted by the lights of South Africa’s fun city.” However,any students had never been in a revolving restaurant and i must admit, not everyone found it 'enchanting' to be revolving 360 degrees while eating dinner. You can view the menu and pictures on-line at http://www.roma.co.za/ (I did not bring my camera to dinner!)

St. Lucia Estuary and on to Durban

March 24
Packed up to leave Sand Forest Lodge to enjoy 3-hour boat tour through St. Lucia Estuary http://www.places.co.za/html/stlucia_est.html. Perfect day but a bit too sunny for some of us to remain on the deck but, whether on top or inside the Ferry, we all had an opportunity to see hippos galore!


Back on shore we departed for Durban, stopping along the way to have lunch at the Quarter Deck, where, in addition to lunch we were treated to a Zulu dance performance but some local kids.




A 3 ½ hour drive to Durban allowed us to settle into our rooms at the Blue Waters Hotel in Durban http://www.bluewatershotel.co.za/. As we were checking in we realized we had arrived at this beach front hotel shortly before the closing of the Hare Krishnas 20th annual Ratha-yatra (Festival of Chariots), allowing us to walk outside and watch as thousands paraded by our hotel.




Continuing down the beach we arrived at 7:30 for a fabulous dinner at the Havana Grill (http://www.dining-out.co.za/member_details-MemberID-2399.html), located in the Suncoast Casino (http://www.suite101.com/view_image.cfm/180744). After a several hour relaxing dinner, some of us headed back to the hotel, while an energetic group decided to try their hand at the casino.

Hluhluwe Game Reserve 23 March

March 23

Quite assuredly unlike any Easter Sunday morning I had ever experienced. We were met at our cabins by three driver/guides from Thompsons Africa Touring & Safaris for our 6-hour morning game drive through Umfolozi Hluhluwe Game Reserve http://www.places.co.za/html/1979.html. The guides had amazing knowledge of not only all the animals but also how to spot them from further away then any human eye could possibly see. They are all exceptionally well trained having been required to take classes, pass exams, participate in a practicum which is followed by a stringent assessment, before taking classes on first aid and completing yet another class on how to manage people on safari –very impressive.

The drive itself was amazing for both the beauty of the landscape, as well as the animals. We stopped at a picnic area about ½ through the drive and ‘feasted’ on the interesting breakfast that had been provided by the folks at Sand Forest – hard boiled eggs, a variety of sandwiches, fruit, cookies, water . . . but no coffee ; - (

The Zebra entertained us as we ate and many took posed and candid shots of both the animals and one another before continuing on our way to see yet more animals and breath taking views.

Following the drive we stopped at Hotel Hluhluwe for lunch before returning to Sand Forest. The afternoon provided a time for some to rest and relax while others of us were transported to the Craft Market for a bit of shopping.

(the one truly unfortunate part of the day was that Joelle was sick and unable to join us for the game drive which was one of the things she had most excitedly anticipated---we all missed being able to share the day with her, but believe her speedy recuperation and the remainder of the trip, helped to mediate her disappointment).

Finished the day with dinner in the dining room. Great conversations and a chance to relax and catch up.

Durban to Sand Forest Lodge

I do believe that everyone who participated in our week long “spring break” Durban Excursion agrees it was absolutely wonderful. Many thanks to Jeffrey Smith, the RA who planned and coordinated the trip.

Ben Brown and Vernon Rose also accompanied us, offering much support, good humor, and enjoyment to the overall success of the adventure (Ben also provided wake-up calls to some very weary travelers on some very early mornings!) The trip provided a wonderful mixture of adventure and relaxation, with plenty of free time for people to select the types of activities that most appealed to them.

With only slight apologies for the unedited accumulation of pictures, you can find pictures of each of the activities in which I was an active participant or interested observer at http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey

Two make things a bit more manageable and to be able to upload a large quantity of pictures i have separated them by day.

March 22
Picked up at 6:00am for transport to Cape Town International Airport for our 8:30am flight. We arrived in Durban International about 10:30 where we were greeted by two wonderful drivers who accompanied us throughout the entire time of our travels. Following a 3 ½ hour drive, with a brief stop for lunch along the way, we arrived at Sand Forest Lodge http://www.sandforest.co.za/ and got settled into our cabins just before the first of many thunder storms. The storm was quite remarkable, lighting up the sky to reveal the animals roaming the grounds. The storm ended, though the puddles remained, as we made our way to the dining hall for a wonderful dinner and some lively conversation. We enjoyed a wonderful evening but remained well aware of the fact that our morning would begin before sunrise and we all wanted to be wide awake as we headed for our game drive.

Human Rights Day, 21 March '08

Many students decided to spend at least some of Human Rights Day, Friday 21 March 2008, at the Cape Town Festival at Company’s Garden. The theme, appropriately is “One City Many Cultures” http://www.capetownfestival.co.za/ http://www.capetownfestival.co.za/mc/human_rights_day.html

The Human Rights Day Concert in Cape Town’s Company Gardens has been rated as one of the most popular components of the annual Cape Town Festival. The event promotes awareness of the inalienable human rights of all people through music, traditional blessings and inspirational words of local dignitaries. This concert is the official Western Cape provincial celebration of the public holiday.

In 2008, Human Rights Day falls on Good Friday, a holy day celebrated by Christians around the world. Friday is also a holy day for Jews and Muslims.

Scheduled on Human Rights Day, 21 March, the event stages the best dancers and local musicians performing contemporary sacred music in the exceptional outdoor venue of Company’s Garden.

Music and dance starts mid morning, a short multi-denominational Human Rights Day Ceremony is hosted after 2pm, before the main music programme. The show is timed with the headline act on stage by sunset. This years headline act was the Soweto Gospel Choir http://www.sowetogospelchoir.com/.

Entrance is free to the public and festival researchers reported attendance in excess of 16 000 people during the course of the Human Rights Day Concert on 21 March 2007.

The music programme spans diverse genres and draws an audience representative of Cape Town’s population on this important pubic holiday. The show draws families, youth and all lovers of live music performance.

(The billing typically includes artists from Cape Town, South Africa. Last year’s headline act was Freshlyground (MTV winner for Best Group - Africa) and the year before Judith Sephuma.)

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

March 16, 2008 I accompanied Ben Brown, (Loch Road RA extraordinaire), and Lara Edmonds together with her mom, Alice, and sister, Marisa, who were visiting from Connecticut, to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden for a wonderful picnic and sunset concert. This following a day which included Palm Sunday Mass at St Patrick Church in Mowbray, breakfast at Greek http://www.dining-out.co.za/member_details-MemberID-2457.html, and shopping at Green Point Market http://www.uncoverthecape.co.za/shopping/markets/greenpoint-market/. with a stop to pick up crackers, cheese, fruit, soda, wine and dessert to enjoy at sunset, listening to a concert, in the shadow of Table Mountain, in what surely must be one of the most beautiful places in all the world

Below is some info from the website regarding the gardens and the summer concert series. Pictures taken by Lara's mom can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey/KirstenboschNationalBotanicalGarden?pli=1

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden http://www.sanbi.org/frames/kirstfram.htm is "world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. 

Kirstenbosch grows only indigenous South African plants. The estate covers 528 hectares and supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. The cultivated garden (36 hectares) displays collections of South African plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of the country. It was founded in 1913."

Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts http://www.uncoverthecape.co.za/event-calendar/kirstenbosch-concerts.htm are a fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Cape Town. The concert venue is within the botanical gardens with concerts every Sunday, from November to April. The Kirstenbosch Concerts have a special feel to them mainly due to the breathtaking setting. Part of the charm also lies in the warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with concert goers picnicking on the soft grass banks that slope downwards towards the stage. An excellent way to enjoy the concert is to pack a delicious picnic basket, bring along friends and family and find a spot on the Kirstenbosch slopes. The concerts are very popular so get there early to ensure you get a good spot. While waiting for the concert to begin take in the beautiful surroundings of the world famous garden.

16 March Concert: Selaelo Selota & Karen Zoid
Selaelo Selota is one of South Africa’s foremost Afro-Jazz musicians. This multi-talented guitarist, singer, songwriter, composer and producer was the winner of the ‘Best Newcomer’ and ‘Best Contemporary Jazz Album’ categories at the 2001 SAMA awards. His first two albums ‘Painted Faces’ and ‘Enchanted Gardens’ both went gold and his latest offering 'The Azanian Songbook' has been released on his own label.

Multi award-winning singer-songwriter, composer, cultural icon and rock diva Karen Zoid started out as a busker on the street corners of Melville, Johannesburg. Since then she has gone on to win numerous awards, headline at most of the country’s major music festivals and be voted one of the ‘Top 6 Rising Stars of South Africa’ by the Sunday Times. She is a prolific songwriter and has written songs for several SA artists as well as a theme for a TV series. She recently released her fourth album ‘Postmodern World’.

Katy Sileo on her internship and Delft

By Katy Sileo

The Gender Equity Unit is an organization located at the University of the Western Cape. The main focus of our programs is geared to continuously challenging gender inequalities, eliminate inequalities and to acknowledge and address diversity issues in the cause of social justice. The GEU monitors and reviews University policies and practices with regard to gender equity, advocates for women's rights on campus,engages in community outreach, and provides a safe space for students to organize around social issues. Some of my personal contributions to the GEU so far have been organizing, interviewing, and managing student volunteers. I also am organizing and participating in community outreach. Last week we visited Delft, a community in need, and provided basic necessities and medical treatment. After our community outreach to Delft, I am starting a fundraiser so that the GEU can go back to Delft and provide more aid. I also spoke as a guest lecturer in a Women and Gender Studies undergraduate class on Gender in a cross-cultural persepctive. We are currently planning a weekend retreat to train all of the University's "Gender Equity Officers" on gender sensitivity and awareness.

On Delft Outreach:

The Gender Equity Unit went with other organizations from the University of the Western Cape on Saturday March 3, 2008 to Delft, a South African community. The people of Delft have recently been forcefully evicted from unfinished governmental housing. Many of these people have been on a waiting list for housing for 20 years. We provided them with toiletries, as well as basic first aid. We spent the day talking to them and providing both physical and emotional support. The people were extremely welcoming and grateful for the support. It was an incredible experience.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Family and Friends,

I had the opportunity on Saturday to visit and provide support to people in need in Delft, a South African community, with my internship at the Gender Equity Unit. At this particular location in Delft, there are hundreds of homeless families facing hunger and sickness. They have recently been forcefully evicted from unfinished governmental houses that they have been promised, however many of them have been on the waiting list for 20 years. These people have very little and were so grateful for the few rolls of toilet paper and first aid we were able to provide them.

I'd like to ask all of you to help me in supporting the people of Delft with a donation, even something as small as $2.00 per person can make a difference. In the next two weeks, I'd like to ask you to collect whatever donations you can from family, friends, and coworkers. Forward this email to everyone you know or put out a collection jar at your office. Please make sure everything you collect gets back to

Diane Sileo
404 Broadwell Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
908-687-5991

By March 25th. Diane is my mother and will send me all proceeds. With all of your generous donations, I'd like to go back to Delft and provide them with further first aid and basic necessities.

Attached are pictures of those who will benefit from your generosity. Please email me with any further questions. Thank you all so much for your help, together we can really do something great!

Love,

Katy Sileo

katelyn.sileo@gmail.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey/KatyLaraInDelftPhotosCourtesyThomasHelton?pli=1

Katy & Lara visit Delft

Katy Sileo and Lara Edmonds are interning at the University of the Western Cape at the Gender Equity Unit. Hearing that students from campus were going to spend their Saturday bringing supplies to families who had been evicted from homes in Delft they decided to joint them. Below is a story of the event written by Thomas Helton. Photos taken by Thomas that day are available on my photo page at
http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey/KatyLaraInDelftPhotosCourtesyThomasHelton

And, his article"Out of Africa:Delft: more than a word, forever more than a place" by Thomas Helton can be read at http://media.www.thecurrentonline.com/media/storage/paper304/news/2008/03/03/Features/Out-Of.Africa-3248096.shtml

Dance for Peace

On March 8th, I joined several of the students from the program, together with Sandeli, Amanda, & Molly to attend an incredible performance of Dance for Peace. Although we were not able to take pictures of the performance itself, above is a picture of the program and below is a poem written by one of the stars of the show, Lindiwe Rose (daughter of Vernon Rose).

There is also a link to some pictures taken at my flat where some of us met to have some pizza before attending the show.

---------------------------------------
Dance for Peace
One step at a time

THE TEMPLE OF HIP-HOP
A DANCE FOR PEACE PROCUTION

Joseph Stone Auditorium
In ATHLONE
March 5th-8th, 2008

---------------------------
These Dreams…
By Lindiwe Rose

With my eyes open wide I dream
Dreams of pride I take it in my stride
Hoping to provide the peace, love and happiness
We’ll need to survive
These dreams of hope
These dreams of prosperity

I open my eyes to a world of positivity
Where my ministry does not contribute to my abnormality
Because you’ve experienced something other than negativity
You’ve now chosen to see my sanity
In these dreams we unite
To celebrate our individuality
We show strength and power through loving unconditionally
Where our conversations are motivational
Educational, inspirational
We live beyond the physical
Those dreams when we’re awake
We know they are real
Just believe and treasure
That we are powerful beyond measure

---------------------------------------------

Cape Town midpoint update

Hello from incredible Cape Town,

Every day I am thankful to be here – it has been a wonderful and rewarding experience for me on so very many levels—more than I could have ever anticipated.

The students are amazing. Their commitment, wisdom, idealism and vision continue to inspire me and help me to keep hope alive. In addition to their internships, which have provided them with first hand experience to integrate their academic knowledge with personal and professional experience, they are all involved in activist projects in a sector beyond their field placement, and they are, of course, taking every opportunity to get to know the people, customs, and country.

And in Cape Town, the landscape itself continues to provide lessons.

For me, the omnipresent mountains have become a guiding force --- always there as a point of reference —not only to provide direction as I travel but perspective as I confront challenges. I look up and know I am going in the right direction, both figuratively and literally! I continue to be astonished by the calm that comes over me when I gaze upon the incredible beauty, strength and endurance! Certainly not an original thought, but none the less a profoundly personal awakening.

Hard to believe that 7 of our 15 weeks in Cape Town are behind us —the time is truly flying by.

Anyone who has checked my fledgling blog has surely noticed that nothing has been added in over a month—until today!!

Now that we are approaching the 1/2 way mark I have decided to at least get the pics from the first part of our trip in order. Therefore, you can check out new pictures of all 25 fabulous interns which have been posted both on my blog and at the webpage site on which I have posted pictures taken since our arrival --- now somewhat organized (and some, if not all, are even labeled) —
You can check them out at http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey

(I know many of the students are posting pictures regularly on their Facebook pages--- so for those who can negotiate Facebook you may be able to find even more pictures from a wide array of places that I myself have not visited).

On the up and coming front:
• From March 22-29 the group will be on an excursion in the Durban area. I will post the finalized itinerary within the next few days. I trust that trip will be yet another adventure from which we will all be able to further expand our horizons.
• I am asking each student to write a blurb about how their placement is going, what they are doing for their activist projects, and at least one significant thing they have learned since arriving. I will post their responses to the blog as I receive them. (I have no doubt you will be as impressed as I)


Cheers,

In peace, with hope,