Summer in South Africa

Long time no write, everyone! I apologize for not keeping to my weekly habit of posting to this blog but it has been yet another hectic week and a half here in Cape Town.

First of all, I would like to congratulate the North Shore Country Day School class of 2012. Our graduation ceremony was yesterday and although I wasn't in attendance I spend the whole day thinking about it. I thought to myself, "why am I missing this?"After a few hours of thinking and several emails, facebook messages and wallposts, I finally realized that I made the right choice for myself to come to South Africa on my AFS exchange. Sure, I would have liked to be in attendance at the ceremony but luckily with this day and age of technology I was able to hear my name called via a video my mom recorded. Thanks, mom!

Now, back to the southern hemisphere. Since I last posted I explained that I will be spending the balance of my time here doing community work. I spent the last week and a half volunteering for Equal Education in Cape Town organizing and preparing books to be put in school libraries in townships. Last Friday I had the opportunity to visit the township of Khayelitsha to deliver the books. Although my time in the township was limited to a few hours, the short time I spent reaffirmed why I came to South Africa. I had an experience within an experience to see how the "other half" lives and to make a tangible difference to the community. The principles of the schools we visited were very gracious to have us and were extremely welcoming. I found the teachers and the administration of Sosebenza, Manyano, and the other school of which I forgot the name to be some of the warmest and nicest people I have met in South Africa. To say the least it was a very worthwhile experience.

I remember starting this blog about two months before I left and I remember writing about how I had no idea what would be in store. When I wrote that blogpost I was sitting in the senior homeroom on a bleak monday morning in December during A block when I should have been doing my Pre-Calc homework. Now, about two months remain of my time in South Africa and I am more than aware of the fact that the time will fly. Therefore, I must enjoy it.

The timeline of events until August 10, my last day in Cape Town, is as follows:

This week: Continue to do community work here in Cape Town

Next week: Go back to school for Matric day (sort of like seniors' day) and a field trip with my tourism class, and then the Matric dance!

Following week: Holidays start until the 16 of July. During that time I'll be hanging around Cape Town with friends and various visiting exchange students. I'm going to Phalaborwa, Limpopo one of those weeks to visit a fellow exchange student.

The remaining three or so weeks before I leave have still yet to be determined. Most likely I will do a mix of sightseeing and community work until I leave. Even though two months seems like a long time from now it really isn't as I have a lot planned.

Here are some pictures of my trip to the township of Khayelitsha:

Cheers!

-Danny