I will start this email off on a positive, vacation-ish note to make sure that you all know that despite my reflections and powerful experiences, I am also having a lot of fun!...I spent the afternoon sipping champagne on the beach with a bunch of my fellow travelers...and found out that it is a very small world after all! There is an older couple on this trip who are hysterical and have adopted me (N, think uncle jack) and just happen to be the best of friends with my buddy Seth's family! And, my new friend Rodney lives two blocks away from me at 2nd and Queen...and we all traveled 24 hours to meet each other. The people in my group are lots of fun, which always helps the experience!
The day wasn't all fun and bubbly...we spent the morning (another 6:45 wakeup call) at the University of the Western Cape, where we had a really intense lecture on HIV/AIDs and its impact on Africa and particularly college campuses....Its estimated that as many as 1 in3 South Africans may be HIV positive, which is a devastating statistic! Its rampant on college campuses. A guy named Bonilla told us all about his own personal experiences with finding out he was HIV positive and coming out to his family and friends...Again, he managed to find the positive in his situation, telling us that he felt that revealing this to his family had improved his relationship with his dad. I held it together but was definitely pretty emotional after getting back on the bus, as most of us were. From the University, we headed to the beach....and after drinking lots of champagne forced on us by our awesome Australian/South African tour guide Justin, we had to come back and have a serious group discussion about our experiences so far....let me tell you, no one was making many revelations, but I think we all really needed the downtime to process the morning.
Tonight we went to a performance by a group of youth from Kliptown, who we will also visit next week. They were full of energy and tons of fun.
Finished up the night eating an Ostrich burger (yup, ostrich!) and getting drinks on the waterfont with the group...all in all a great day! Tomorrow, its on to the jackass penguin colony where I'm pretty sure I will kidnap some wildlife to bring back to J & J, per their requests! :).....
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7 comments:
HOWSIT! I'm learning the lingo already! OSTRICH huh? . . . and how many years did I prepare veggie meals for you. :)
Sounds like a bit of bubbly was needed after such an intense morning at the University. A little reprieve from reality .
I found it funny how you thought of your bros and visiting the JACKASS penguin colony together.
We love reading your posts and miss you tons. Can't wait to see pics.
Mum
Hi Breezy-- sounds like u are having a a great experience. I am currently watching Age of Love so I can keep you updated on this lovely show you have taken a liking to :-) Or am i watching Hell's Kitchen?? you will NEVER know. The beaches, views and people sound amazing- I can only imagine for now. I know I am way late on repling to your postings but you sent it to my work email silly! Anyways- I am enjoying your blog alot-- good decision. I mailed all of (y)our bills. I feel like it you have already done so much but yet you arent coming home anytime soon. Keep it up! I will talk to you soon. ciao bella....LYMYMI
damn it still says John.
Ok you learn how you are going to change the world and I will work on my next post not saying John.
Obviously this is not your brother John? Which John is it???? Or is that code?? :)
I can't stop reading your blog, I love it.
I love the idea of Champagne on the beach but Ostrich burgers just don't sound right. Do they come rare, med, and well done? What a treat looking forward to your blog everyday. Can't wait to see the pictures. Love You!
thats what i like to hear brie....we could use another fuzzy member to the tangney family...i'll settle for a penguin
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