Thursday, Oct. 07, 2004

six weeks

how can i possibly convey everything i've experienced here in this diary? all i can say is, i'm giving each adn every one of you a new obligation to fulfill before you die: go to south africa! you will never see a more amazing country. at least i can't imagine one. not only is it beautiful, being here in the context of its history makes the experience even more incredible. and studying abroad really makes you examine your own nationality. kevin i know how your experience has made you think about your american-ness. being here puts issues of racism, poverty, segregation into a whole new perspective. i'm starting to understand why the US has so many problems that western europe doesn't have. and south africa is so different, but also in some ways the same.

not to mention, since being here, i have climbed up a mountain in the most difficult hike of my life, to watch the sunset over the atlantic and walk back down by the light of the full moon; i have gone diving with great white sharks; whale watching; lived with a family; learned xhosa expressions and zulu dance, i've started working in the national botanical gardens, i visted robben island where mandela was imprisoned, and tomorrow i am leaving for a 10 day river rafting/game drive trip through the kalahari desert in SA, namibia, and botswana. and that's just the first half of the semester.

so yeah . . . this country is amazing and i hope you all get a chance to come here. i am having such a great time i don't want to come home. but that doesn't mean i don't miss you all terribly!