Cape Town is officially my favorite city ever. It is so beautiful and full of things to do. 97% of SAS students spend their time in SA on an overpriced safari where they might get to see some cool animals. That's sweet but I don't regret deciding to hang out in the city and forgo the safari. Six days in Capetown is barely long enough.
I will give you the laundry list of things I have done so far. Everyday has been packed to the max and this is the first port where we haven't had any time to "just walk around and explore"
I went out to Cape Point with my friend Jackie to see where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean and to see the African Penguin reserve. We got an awesome taxi driver for the whole day who was really good to us and played lots his favorite African music. The Penguins are ADORABLE. (Christy I thought of you!) And Cape Point was really cool as well.
That night we hiked Lion's Head mountain with a bunch of friends for sunset and for the full moon. Hiking is my new favorite thing to do, tomorrow we are going up Table Mountain.
The next day was the big day, Mark and I went SHARK CAGE DIVING!!! We were startled when one rammed into the cage. We screamed underwater but then we were all really excited that it happened. It took the whole day and there were only ten people on our boat which normally takes 25 so we got to dive with the sharks as much as we wanted! At night we saw the Cape Town Philharmonic Symphony because we read about it in the newspaper. They were accompanied by a choir which was awesome and we were the only Semester At Sea students there so that was a nice change.
Yesterday I took the train to the Winelands to explore and take some beautiful countryside photos. The whole day only cost me about 5-6 American dollars because we took the train which was quite enjoyable and really cheap. Last night it was our friend Connor's birthday so we went out to dinner at an authentic South African Restaurant where a live band was playing. I ate Crocodile and Wart-hog! Crocodile is Delicious! I highly recommend trying it. And the Wart-hog was pretty tasty as well.
Well thats all for now. I wrote this really fast so please forgive the typos. Hope Everyone is doing well!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I'm in Africa! Yes, it's true, Africa! We are all so excited and already the first day has been amazing. First of all, I must apologize for the lack of blog entries. We are sailing and don't have access to the internet. I am used to this by now but, I know it is frustrating for all those who want to stay connected.
Three days till South Africa! Everyone on ship is excited to go to Capetown. Mostly everyone is ready to be on land and to stop moving for six days. The ocean was very rough two days ago. I thought it was fun, but some people were pretty miserable. It's hard to describe the rocking, we literally get thrown from one side of the hallway to the other and there is a strange change in gravity every few seconds. At times you feel like you are floating and then the next second you can hardly walk up the stairs. At dinner we had to grab our plates every time a wave rocked the ship, and if you missed, you got dinner in your lap. It did cause a lot more clean-up for the crew which we all felt badly about. At one point all the drinks set out for us toppled over and created a juicy mess on the dining room's carpet. We weren't allowed to eat out on deck because the furniture is lightweight and we would have been sliding everywhere. It did get pretty annoying at nighttime, all of our drawers were sliding open and closed until we got frustrated and duct-taped them shut.
Neptune day, our party for crossing the equator, had already been postponed due to rain, so they had it on the super choppy day despite sea-conditions. It was a lot of fun, the crew woke us up around 730 in the morning with drums and whistles, forcing us to get out of bed and join the festivities. Our dean dressed up as Neptune in a pretty hysterical costume while my history professor readt a plea to Neptune to let us pass into the southern hemisphere. Neptune of course denied us this right until we had proven ourselves worthy of passage. How you might ask?
Well, first you have to get slimy, smelly fish guts poured over your head. Its really not that bad cause immediately after you jump in the pool and rinse off. Then its up the ladder and over to a huge dead fish with floppy lips which you must kiss. Finally you kneel before Neptune and he proclaims you worthy. The whole experience is quite delightful really. Traditionally, sailors who crossed the equator would also shave their heads as an offering to King Neptune and this tradition was carried out on the ship as well. Probably about one hundred boys shaved their heads and I heard as many as thirty girls did also. I didn't shave my head, but two of my good friends did and they look great.
We've only had eight days of classes with one off in the middle and yet we are all a bit tired. The rocking puts us all to sleep, plus nearly everyone is drugged up on malaria medication. Everyone is excited for six days of dry land and no classes.
Capetown!
We pulled into port this morning around 5AM. Everyone was awake and up on deck. (Semester At Sea students really do not sleep). Sunrise was one of the most breathtaking I have ever seen as it slowly illuminated Table Mountain and seals began to play in the harbor. We set out after our debriefing and after the ship was cleared.
Capetown is a beautiful city, it definitely tops Rio. Ports are crazy crazy days when we don't have time for much other than experiencing the country!
I went to visit a township for the day which was very educational. Then we went to a musical dinner theater type of thing and ate wonderful food that only cost 15 Rand (2$). I have a TON planned for the rest of this week. It's insane. I cannot believe that this is how we go to school. Ahh!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Editorial Note
Because of the limited Internet access while at sea, Sara has asked me to assist with posting entries to her blog.
Brazil
They told us that speaking Portuguese is like a drunken French person trying to speak Spanish. I figured I could handle it...
BRAZIL! I have so many stories, and so many memories that trying to give you the entire full picture would be impossible. In an e-mail I read on the third day of Brazil my lovely best friend Marlene told me about her Mardi Gras and asked “Does Brazil do anything to celebrate Fat Tuesday?” Well my dear, when I got this e-mail you will forgive my chuckle, because two nights earlier I had been a part of literally, The BIGGEST party in the world.
Carnival. Yes, they certainly celebrate Fat Tuesday and are known for doing it the biggest and the best way possible. There is nothing I can write that could possibly do justice to the experience I had in Salvador when we arrived to the most exciting part of the most exhilarating party in the world. We slept out on the deck the night before and woke up as we were pulling in to port at five AM. We could still hear music from the night before playing and carrying across the ocean. Wonderful.
The squares are packed with African drummers and dancers wearing elaborate costumes, while the streets are filled with people waiting for Camarotes to drive by carrying the most popular Brazilian musical artists. The whole time before Brazil all we heard were warnings of the dangers of Carnival. “Stay with boys” “Don’t bring any money, or any cameras” They painted a necessary, but I think unfair picture of the people we would encounter. My experience was completely positive.
We went out in a group of five girls and two boys who acted as our willing and very attentive bodyguards. I carried nothing but a photocopy of my passport, my ship ID and twenty Reals hidden in my sneaker. Almost as soon as we got to the old part of Salvador we were bombarded by a parade of African drummers that swept through the streets causing spontaneous dancing, clapping and singing from all around us. We followed them to the square where they performed and while we were watching the dancing they pulled my friend Jackie and I into the dance. We were completely willing to join in, and as they taught dance moves, neither she nor I would stop laughing since we were having so much fun. Eventually everyone in my group from SAS was dancing and having an amazing time. Their songs seemed to last ten minutes each and gave no time for a break before the next one started or we found ourselves in a giant conga line.
Throughout the entire nights fun and craziness, being pulled into the group with such acceptance was my favorite part. I learned more in that one hour of dancing with strangers than I ever have learned in any of my classes. Already my description of Carnival is very long and it really does not even begin to do it justice. Like I said, my experience was completely positive. Others were not so lucky, one boy from SAS was punched in the face and countless stories have circulated about muggings and lost cameras. The danger was very real but I can say that the vast majority of Brazilians we met that night were some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. My last thought about Carnival was that I loved how non-touristy it was. The crafts in the markets of Salvador are handmade and genuine, a nice change from the mass produced trinkets made in china and shipped to tourist capitals of the world.
Carnival was amazing and such a rich cultural experience. If you want to feel like you are experiencing the culture go to Salvador, dance without fear and sing loudly even if you don’t know the words. Other than Carnival the rest of Brazil was equally wondrous. I went to Rio to see sugarloaf mountain, and Christ The Redeemer which was equally magnificent to seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Its true what they say about Rio being the most beautiful city in the world. Goggle image it and you will have but an idea of the mountains, forests and skylines that give Rio its reputation. While in Rio I met new people, saw monkeys in the rainforest, ate at a Chuharscaria (probably not spelled right), and stood at the feet of one of the Seven Wonders Of the World. We tried to hang glide but Mom, you will be happy to hear that the first day it was Rainey, the second day they closed and the third it was to windy, so I didn’t have that adventure. Oh well, a reason to go back!
Above all Brazil has taught me how hard this voyage will be to explain to people who haven’t experienced it with me. I’m trying my best but I know that some things will never make it into a mass e-mail on posted on my blog.
Ship life up until Brazil was super fun. We study, play lots of games and above all else we go to snack time. We had a pirate dance for my “Sea” and it was an absolute blast. This campus is amazing and so unique, nothing can compare to dancing next to your sweaty and overweight, fifty-year-old history professor as he grabs onto a poll with one hand and firmly holds a Corona with the other hand. Jumping up and down with your Brazilian inter-port lecturer as the academic dean shakes and smiles behind you is an opportunity that I think is safe to say can only be experienced on the M.V. Explorer. We crossed the equator, our big party is in two days and I wont be shaving my head although many of my friends are! I went on a tour of the bridge today and got to sit in the captains chair and play with all the buttons, Fun! We are on our way to Capetown, and passing through time zones like crazy.
BRAZIL! I have so many stories, and so many memories that trying to give you the entire full picture would be impossible. In an e-mail I read on the third day of Brazil my lovely best friend Marlene told me about her Mardi Gras and asked “Does Brazil do anything to celebrate Fat Tuesday?” Well my dear, when I got this e-mail you will forgive my chuckle, because two nights earlier I had been a part of literally, The BIGGEST party in the world.
Carnival. Yes, they certainly celebrate Fat Tuesday and are known for doing it the biggest and the best way possible. There is nothing I can write that could possibly do justice to the experience I had in Salvador when we arrived to the most exciting part of the most exhilarating party in the world. We slept out on the deck the night before and woke up as we were pulling in to port at five AM. We could still hear music from the night before playing and carrying across the ocean. Wonderful.
The squares are packed with African drummers and dancers wearing elaborate costumes, while the streets are filled with people waiting for Camarotes to drive by carrying the most popular Brazilian musical artists. The whole time before Brazil all we heard were warnings of the dangers of Carnival. “Stay with boys” “Don’t bring any money, or any cameras” They painted a necessary, but I think unfair picture of the people we would encounter. My experience was completely positive.
We went out in a group of five girls and two boys who acted as our willing and very attentive bodyguards. I carried nothing but a photocopy of my passport, my ship ID and twenty Reals hidden in my sneaker. Almost as soon as we got to the old part of Salvador we were bombarded by a parade of African drummers that swept through the streets causing spontaneous dancing, clapping and singing from all around us. We followed them to the square where they performed and while we were watching the dancing they pulled my friend Jackie and I into the dance. We were completely willing to join in, and as they taught dance moves, neither she nor I would stop laughing since we were having so much fun. Eventually everyone in my group from SAS was dancing and having an amazing time. Their songs seemed to last ten minutes each and gave no time for a break before the next one started or we found ourselves in a giant conga line.
Throughout the entire nights fun and craziness, being pulled into the group with such acceptance was my favorite part. I learned more in that one hour of dancing with strangers than I ever have learned in any of my classes. Already my description of Carnival is very long and it really does not even begin to do it justice. Like I said, my experience was completely positive. Others were not so lucky, one boy from SAS was punched in the face and countless stories have circulated about muggings and lost cameras. The danger was very real but I can say that the vast majority of Brazilians we met that night were some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. My last thought about Carnival was that I loved how non-touristy it was. The crafts in the markets of Salvador are handmade and genuine, a nice change from the mass produced trinkets made in china and shipped to tourist capitals of the world.
Carnival was amazing and such a rich cultural experience. If you want to feel like you are experiencing the culture go to Salvador, dance without fear and sing loudly even if you don’t know the words. Other than Carnival the rest of Brazil was equally wondrous. I went to Rio to see sugarloaf mountain, and Christ The Redeemer which was equally magnificent to seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Its true what they say about Rio being the most beautiful city in the world. Goggle image it and you will have but an idea of the mountains, forests and skylines that give Rio its reputation. While in Rio I met new people, saw monkeys in the rainforest, ate at a Chuharscaria (probably not spelled right), and stood at the feet of one of the Seven Wonders Of the World. We tried to hang glide but Mom, you will be happy to hear that the first day it was Rainey, the second day they closed and the third it was to windy, so I didn’t have that adventure. Oh well, a reason to go back!
Above all Brazil has taught me how hard this voyage will be to explain to people who haven’t experienced it with me. I’m trying my best but I know that some things will never make it into a mass e-mail on posted on my blog.
Ship life up until Brazil was super fun. We study, play lots of games and above all else we go to snack time. We had a pirate dance for my “Sea” and it was an absolute blast. This campus is amazing and so unique, nothing can compare to dancing next to your sweaty and overweight, fifty-year-old history professor as he grabs onto a poll with one hand and firmly holds a Corona with the other hand. Jumping up and down with your Brazilian inter-port lecturer as the academic dean shakes and smiles behind you is an opportunity that I think is safe to say can only be experienced on the M.V. Explorer. We crossed the equator, our big party is in two days and I wont be shaving my head although many of my friends are! I went on a tour of the bridge today and got to sit in the captains chair and play with all the buttons, Fun! We are on our way to Capetown, and passing through time zones like crazy.
Friday, February 1, 2008
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