ALBUM ONE
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2402655&id=10738073&l=f3bc71a4b5
ALBUM TWO
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2402657&id=10738073&l=b2f33bc69f
Monday, April 6, 2009
greetings from Cape Town
Hey everyone...
So I decided to start this blog so that I could keep you all updated about what's been happening down here without having to send out the same email 500 times. I've been pretty busy here just getting adjusted and everything, hence the lack of contact with you. I feel sort of bad and I hope that you aren't offended. We are very much on our own here as far as most of the stuff we are doing goes. Our prof is pretty hands of and wants us to experience things in our own ways, but is available when we need her. She has been getting us tickets to things and has planned when we are traveling but for the most part lets us do our own thing.
Now, where to begin. As far as tourist attractions go, we have been to the VA waterfront, Camps Bay (Cliffton) beach, Table Mountain, and the Jazz Festival.
So first the waterfront. We spent the whole day down there mostly just hanging out. We did end up going on an hour boat ride just out and around the bay which was really nice. It's an interesting view of the city and you can see Table Mountain behind the city . It was also a really good view of the new stadium they are building for the world cup next year. It was a very touristy place, which I think we all recognized, but it was still fun.
The beach, another huge tourist attraction, was beautiful! We went there as a group with our driver Mr. Moss (who picked me up from the airport, we all love him) and his 6 year old son Lemy. Lemy is pretty crazy and very much an entertainer (...Chanel) so we had a lot of fun with him. The water was FREEZING! So most of us just laid out, walked around and got some lunch.
We went to Table Mountain on one of the hottest days. I think it was around 90 degrees. It was a lot of fun (I feel like I'm repeating that a lot). Pictures better describe it so maybe I'll post some.
The jazz festival was indescribable...so I won't try haha. My favorite acts were Pete Philly & Perquisite, Zap Mama, Rus Nerwich and The Collective Imagination, and Freshly Ground. Look them all up if you want to know more about them.
To sum up all these experiences, they were very surreal. A couple people in my group expressed that they didn't really feel like they were in Africa, which was how I felt too, but made me think of the definition, and maybe stereotypes that I expected Africa to be. The people here are amazing, very hospitable and eager to talk with whoever will listen. It is strange to think that the people that come to South Africa just to vacation and do touristy things may never see or interact with the "real" people here. It's weird to think that these beautiful beaches and mountains are all someone could come here and take away from this country.
Yesterday we were invited by a new friend to the guguletu township braai (BBQ). It was interesting to interact with the people that lived there. We played with young kids and talked with music producers and performers who used to live there. It was long day, but very eye-opening and rewarding.
So now I have some downtime and I thought I would check in with everyone and let you know how I'm doing. I love everyone in my group (I hope it stays that way), and I LOVE our house and neighborhood. I feel so safe and at home here, I'm excited to be here for much longer!
Feel free to email me: jdotson@u.washington.edu but forgive me if I don't respond right away. I'll try to update this regulaly, if you want to see my pictures I'll post links from my facebook albums so that you can see them.
I love you and miss you all!!!
So I decided to start this blog so that I could keep you all updated about what's been happening down here without having to send out the same email 500 times. I've been pretty busy here just getting adjusted and everything, hence the lack of contact with you. I feel sort of bad and I hope that you aren't offended. We are very much on our own here as far as most of the stuff we are doing goes. Our prof is pretty hands of and wants us to experience things in our own ways, but is available when we need her. She has been getting us tickets to things and has planned when we are traveling but for the most part lets us do our own thing.
Now, where to begin. As far as tourist attractions go, we have been to the VA waterfront, Camps Bay (Cliffton) beach, Table Mountain, and the Jazz Festival.
So first the waterfront. We spent the whole day down there mostly just hanging out. We did end up going on an hour boat ride just out and around the bay which was really nice. It's an interesting view of the city and you can see Table Mountain behind the city . It was also a really good view of the new stadium they are building for the world cup next year. It was a very touristy place, which I think we all recognized, but it was still fun.
The beach, another huge tourist attraction, was beautiful! We went there as a group with our driver Mr. Moss (who picked me up from the airport, we all love him) and his 6 year old son Lemy. Lemy is pretty crazy and very much an entertainer (...Chanel) so we had a lot of fun with him. The water was FREEZING! So most of us just laid out, walked around and got some lunch.
We went to Table Mountain on one of the hottest days. I think it was around 90 degrees. It was a lot of fun (I feel like I'm repeating that a lot). Pictures better describe it so maybe I'll post some.
The jazz festival was indescribable...so I won't try haha. My favorite acts were Pete Philly & Perquisite, Zap Mama, Rus Nerwich and The Collective Imagination, and Freshly Ground. Look them all up if you want to know more about them.
To sum up all these experiences, they were very surreal. A couple people in my group expressed that they didn't really feel like they were in Africa, which was how I felt too, but made me think of the definition, and maybe stereotypes that I expected Africa to be. The people here are amazing, very hospitable and eager to talk with whoever will listen. It is strange to think that the people that come to South Africa just to vacation and do touristy things may never see or interact with the "real" people here. It's weird to think that these beautiful beaches and mountains are all someone could come here and take away from this country.
Yesterday we were invited by a new friend to the guguletu township braai (BBQ). It was interesting to interact with the people that lived there. We played with young kids and talked with music producers and performers who used to live there. It was long day, but very eye-opening and rewarding.
So now I have some downtime and I thought I would check in with everyone and let you know how I'm doing. I love everyone in my group (I hope it stays that way), and I LOVE our house and neighborhood. I feel so safe and at home here, I'm excited to be here for much longer!
Feel free to email me: jdotson@u.washington.edu but forgive me if I don't respond right away. I'll try to update this regulaly, if you want to see my pictures I'll post links from my facebook albums so that you can see them.
I love you and miss you all!!!
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